Roast Blog Update September 2009

FALL 2009-



There are certain people who are blessed with great friends. Others are blessed with a great family or a great community. Still others may be blessed with a fantastic job that they love, great coworkers or a wonderful partner.

I am blessed with all of these things. I get to find and share delicious things, work with talented people who are passionate about what they do, and participate in the craft and ongoing process of feeding and nurturing my community.

I am so grateful for that opportunity. Thank you- to all of our customers who have supported us through what (reportedly) has been one of the worst economic downturns in our collective lifetime.

I am pleased to announce that Black Sheep Coffee Cafe is still here and going strong!
We have several new menu items, more than a few new coffees- new staff- music- events-

Let me share just a few of those with you.

Coffees:

NEW_ Kenya Kirinyaga -
A fully washed, patio dried Kenya from 1800 metres elevation. Red currant, sweet grapefruit, delicious as a light single origin espresso as well.
This one has outcupped some very famous Kenyan coffees with bigger names behind them, so we're pleased to be able to offer some of the best Kenyan coffee of this season at very reasonable prices.

NEW_Costa Rica Helsar Villa Sarchi-

Helsar de Zarcero is located in the West Valley of Costa Rica in the Llano Bonito de Naranjo microregion. This micromill was started by three families with the goal of adding value and providing traceability to the high quality coffee grown on their land. Ten families now work to produce and mill coffee at Helsar de Zarcero. Sustainable practices are used throughout the farm. Organic fertilizers are fermented on-site by mixing coffee cherry pulp and molasses, along with mined zinc, boron, and other minerals. Micro-organisms are cultured from soil collected on nearby mountains and added to the natural fertilizer in order to provide disease protection to the coffee plants. Helsar de Zarcero is committed to producing high quality microlots, and it shows in the cup, which is consistently round, rich, and very sweet. This particular microlot is the Villa Sarchi varietal, which is unique to Costa Rica. It is a mutant of Bourbon that was found in the small town of Sarchi.


NEW Ethiopia Gerbicho Leila- Natural Process Sidamo.

Natural Process- refers to the drying stage- the coffee cherry is picked ripe and allowed to dry whole, in this natural state, until it shrivels like a raisin. The seed is essentially imbued with the character of this process- and can result in some really wild strawberry, lime, and sweet blueberry notes- above and beyond the fermented soil character of the sidamo region.
Really quite bold and sweet- you can smell it brewing across the street...

NEW- Brazil Eulino-

Micro Lot Brazil- clean peanut. I know that doesn't sound like much- but are you a fan of Peanut Butter? The real stuff? Then you know how addictive good peanut butter can be. This is just like that, you'll find yourself surprised at how satisfying it is in its singularity.



Events and happenings- Heatherlyn tonight at the sheep!

Check out our Music blog for more events!

Also,
Wedding!- I will be getting married to Ms. Katherine Woodman on September 20th- next sunday- and we will be closing early for the event. We're having a carnival themed party with events, games, mini-donuts and cotton candy and sno cones and corn dogs and more!
Stay tuned for details- and photos.

Website re-launch.

We've decided to take another go at the online store. We're going to put all of our best store retail specials, coffee delivery specials, roasting offers and wholesale catering info back up online in an all new store. Stay tuned for details!

And here are just a couple photos of some of our new desserts. It is, after all, the season for dessert. Don't ask me why. I don't know.


Also- if anyone reading this is also attending the Lebowski festival this weekend- please contact me with any photos or reviews you might have- we're big fans.

Spring Cleaning! March Update 2009

First let me say- SPRING- oh my goodness!! Spring. Wow! Really?? Wow!

Ok, got that out of my system.


Next up is the Saint Patrick's SPECIAL-

Buy a $15.00 Gift Card- get a FREE DRINK on us!

That's right. FREE DRINK.
Plus the gift cards have a beautiful little green hat wearing sheep- designed by the lovely and talented Ms.

New Coffees!!

The Beloya is almost here, and we've just received some amazing Brazil. We've picked up Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza- two lots, one for espresso, one for brewed coffee. Both are amazing coffees. We're offering the Brazil for 16.99 a pound, and so far it's flying out the door. So that everyone can have a chance to taste this great coffee before we run out, and while it is fresh-

MAKE A NEW ACCOUNT ON OUR ONLINE COFFEE STORE- and receive a pound of our new Brazil Fortaleza for only $9.99! Available for in store pickup of local delivery.

Let me say that again- sign up online - purchase a pound of our new Brazil Fortaleza for only $9.99! Recession Buster deals!
You'll find a button on the website store HERE-
limit one per customer with Credit card purchase. Local delivery is billed by actual mileage from a gas efficient vehicle- scooter (90mpg) when weather permits and Hybrid (44mpg) otherwise.

We're also repainting and organizing our signs, changing our menu to spring vegetables and soups, and starting to bring back our
FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE!-
$2.25 a glass- Just lemons, filtered water, granulated sugar.

Also, starting next week- we will be brewing FRESH ICED TEA selections every day.
Remember, ICED TEA is only $1.00 every TUESDAY!

Sorry for all the shouting.

February Update:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

In this update:

Coupon- read on to find upcoming special offers!
New Coffees!
Roasting Blog Update
Seasonal Menu Changes- Valentine's day Specials!


New Coffees:

Tanzania Peaberry:
A mild, aromatic cup with a balanced complexity as it cools. Great body and mouthfeel.

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Wondo Worka B-
You may notice this coffee shares the same name as a coffee we already offer- delicious clean ferment flavors of berry, citrus, and wine, but Ethiopia B offers something more complex, the very fine black tea notes of an Oolong. Truly a coffee to be savored, perfect for a Valentine's day Gift.

Valentine's Day Specials-

Look for our Valentine's Mocha- served from February 9-16 only!

Single Origin Jamaican Dark Chocolate-
From Rogue Chocolatier- this is an amazing opportunity to try a simply stunning beverage- the complexity and sweetness of true artisan chocolate, paired with a custom espresso blended for this one drink- available only for Valentine's day week!

Stay Tuned for more details, and a photo.
We will also be baking some special Valentine's Desserts, we're working on recipes right now.


Roasting Blog Update:

On samples and sampling.
We've tried a lot of great coffee- and even more bad coffee-
That is to say, lots and lots and lots of very poor coffee.
Why do we do this- you ask?
So that you do not have to.
We can honestly say that our coffee compares to the best coffee available in our region and our nation. You won't find a cup this good at our prices anywhere else. We are one of only two shops in MN serving true specialty coffee-


Each week we sample new coffees, looking for the best flavor, the best aromas, but with an eye towards value. You would pay 20$ for a great bottle of wine, that, when opened will last perhaps only one meal. Coffee should be fresh, served at peak, given the love and respect it needs to brew a beautiful experience for you and your loved ones.

Ask us about brewing great coffee at home.
We sell brewers, grinders, we can even help you with water!


And now- the -COUPON- Print this out, or simply tell us you saw it online, and save the paper. We trust you.


May all your sips be blessed with perfect
crisp
clean
bliss.

When the going gets tough, the tough get coffee!

Greetings from Opulence, USA~!
That's right. South Saint Paul is booming- confidence is high...


Okay who are we kidding? Times are tough!

Tougher than most of us have ever seen! Our costs have increased in the last year by almost 50%

OUCH.



Rather than raise prices every time our costs go up, we have chosen to absorb as much of this economic difficulty as possible- to make available to you the same great food at the same low prices, in the hope that you, our customers, neighbors, and friends, will continue to support us and benefit from our very reasonably priced high quality food! You can't even get great deli salad at the Grocery store for $6.50 a pound!

I want to take this week's update and use it to bring your attention back to an
-OUTSTANDING DEAL.-
I am speaking of course about our
+Coffee of the Week Club.+



You can sign up now and receive coffee for less than ten dollars for 14 oz. More than 25% off!
Let me say that again-


For LESS THAN THE COST OF FOLGERS-->

you can receive award winning coffees
Cup of Excellence Coffees
90+ point scoring coffees ( which regularly cost $20 a pound or more)
Locally roasted artisan batch coffees- roasted by hand, by me, cupped daily, constantly improved.
Delivered or available for in-store pickup.
Fresh.

Amazing.
Cost-savings!
If you brew coffee twice a week or more- this deal will save you big time!
Stop grabbing terrible impulse coffee from S*buckS or the grocery store! Yuck. That coffee was roasted who knows how long ago, and it was defective to begin with!
Drink coffee from a local cafe with integrity- drink the good stuff- and smile knowing that you are enjoying that coffee at a better price than just about everyone else!




Unless you're growing the coffee yourself, this is about the best deal anywhere!

Sign up at our ONLINE STORE-
or
Sign up in at our Brick and Mortar retail store-
705 Southview Boulevard
South Saint Paul, MN
55075



* on a side note- thanks to Aaron- who has booked a surprising and impressive array or musicians and performances for December! Check out our events page for more info!

Hawaii's are here!

Ah, Hawaii!

The name alone conjures up such majestic imagery-


ANNOUNCING:

Our coffee is here!

We have two lots:

HAWAII NATURAL:

peaches, orchid, pineapple.

This coffee is unlike anything else you have tasted. Delicate, sweet, floral. The perfume of tropical paradise wrapped up in a bean.

By the cup- We sell this coffee by the Cup, clover brew only.
By the pound- we sell this lovely coffee by the pound. Haven't worked out the final cost yet. It's less than Esmerelda, but not by much.


HAWAII DRY FERMENT-

Same farm, different processing method. The results are startling, citrus, chocolate, vanilla, sugar cane, sweet toasted Macadamia nuts.

Also available by the pound and by the cup.

You've heard about Terroir- how the coffee should reflect the land, you've heard about pristine processing and quality in the cup.

Now- for a limited time only, you can taste it. Come and enjoy a round trip ticket to Hawaii for about six bucks. Can't be beat.



Also available- our subscription service is up and running. We are delivering on Thursdays.
Check out the WEBSITE- and ONLINE STORE

Coffee of the Month Club!

My friends, neighbors, and customers.

We are proud to announce we are now offering specialty coffee packages delivered TO YOUR DOOR-
either

once a week for 6 months

or

once a month for a year.

Both of these packages offer exceptional savings off of any of our competitors- even though we are one of only two roasters in the state offering true specialty coffee!

Now you can get coffee delivered to you for a fraction of the cost- and never worry about mystery blends on supermarket shelves, roasted who knows when?

Our coffee is test roasted, developed, cupped daily, roasted fresh, delivered fresh. Totally transparent and accountable. You will be guaranteed fresh, flavorful, delicious coffee- artfully roasted.

check out our Online Shopping Cart for details-

secure online shopping!

I wanted to post a link to local election results.

Black Sheep was proud to host campaign events for both parties, and to host lively debate watching parties!

Follow this link for national results: NATIONAL

This one for local results: LOCAL